Distance apart: A concerned Arsene Wenger watches on at Bradford, with his assistant Steve Bould in the background, right (Picture: AP)

Arsene Wenger’s relationship with his assistant Steve Bould is reportedly nearing breaking point as the Arsenal manager’s reign comes under increasing scrutiny in the wake of Tuesday’s humiliating Capital One Cup defeat at Bradford.

Bould replaced long-time servant Pat Rice in the summer, with hopes high the 50-year-old’s defensive nous could help end the Gunners’ seven-year trophy drought.

But, after initial signs of progress early in the season, Arsenal’s porous ways have returned, as the League Two Bantams found to their advantage this week.

It is reported that Bould, who formed a mean central defensive partnership with Tony Adams as a player at Highbury, worked separately with Wenger’s defenders in pre-season. However, these sessions no longer take place, with Wenger instead leading training.

Many observers have also pointed to the apparent lack of communication between the pair on the touchline during games – a situation which is believed to replicate itself on a day-to-day basis.

It is claimed Bould’s specialist defensive knowledge is not being fully utilised by Wenger (Picture: Daily Mail)

Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson told Talksport: ‘Steve Bould is a very good coach but he’s not allowed to coach them – he doesn’t do any coaching.’

‘Arsene Wenger is not doing enough on the training field. He’s not coaching the players, they have got no game strategy and, because he won’t let anyone else do it, Arsenal are going backwards and some of their players are going backwards.’

Robson also claimed Wenger acted ‘like a dictator in many ways’ at the club.

However, Ray Parlour, who won the Premier League and FA Cup three times under Wenger, told Sky Sports News: ‘Stewart Robson has got his own opinions, but I played under Arsene Wenger and thought he was a great manager when I was there.

‘He was always one of those managers you could talk to. Arsene Wenger is one of those sort of guys who will always try to stick up for his players.

‘We would have meetings after games and it would all come out in the dressing room, which is how it should be. It is a private matter between the players, the manager and the staff.’

The Sun, meanwhile, quoted an Arsenal source as saying the team is frustrated at constantly being encouraged to play over-elaborate football at the expense of results.

Wenger, however, is not thought to have lost the dressing room, and publicly defended his under-achieving troops after Tuesday’s horror-show.

Disgruntled fans, though, did receive an apology from Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis at a drinks reception last night.